Early 'playoff' game

’Dogs set to host Applemen in huge regular-season contest

October 24, 2012

MARTINSBURG - If the playoffs started this weekend, Martinsburg would be facing Logan or Parkersburg South in the opening round. That's a No. 2 vs. No. 15.

On Friday, in what will be a playoff preview, Eastern Panhandle-style, the Bulldogs will face Berkeley County rival Musselman, which just so happens to be the No. 6 team in Class AAA.

"It's a big game, no doubt about it," Martinsburg receiver/safety Cedric Brown said. "The community likes it, and we have great fans. We try to approach each game the same way, though. It's another game where we have to go out and play to the best of our ability. We understand they have a good team and they want to come in here and beat us. We have to make sure that doesn't happen."

Article Photos

The Applemen are indeed a good team, sitting at 6-2 and winners of four straight after a 29-26 setback to Parkersburg South Sept. 14. Musselman has averaged 55 points per game over that stretch, which includes wins over Panhandle rivals Washington, Jefferson, Hedgesville and Hampshire.

The two-time defending state champion Bulldogs are looking forward to it.

"Most definitely, it will be like a playoff game," two-way lineman Eugene German said. "The team we're playing is going to be a playoff team. Our fans are excited about it. We just have to look at it as it's a rivalry game with a playoff atmosphere."

"This one is going to be a little different than a normal regular-season game, because we are both playoff teams," said linebacker Dildeep Dhatt, who had six sacks in a game earlier this season and leads the team with eight. "And it's important because it's a rival game. We just have to approach it the way we approach every game. We know every team wants to beat us. It would make any team's season to beat us."

"It's kind of hard to appreciate winning when you do it all the time," Brown said. "It really brought us down to earth. That loss was probably a blessing in disguise. At the end of the day, the only thing people are going to remember is how you did in the playoffs. It opened all our eyes."

Since that time, Martinsburg (8-1) has reeled off four wins and averaged 51.8 points per game doing it.

The refocused Bulldogs realize that a win by their rivals would not only boost the Applemen's playoff stock, but also give them bragging rights in Berkeley County.

"I wouldn't say it's a bitter rivalry; we are all pretty good friends," German said. "But on the field, when you go to war, everyone is the enemy."

The Applemen, who had a bye week last week, are led by quarterback Caleb Dembeck, who has thrown for more than 1,800 yards and earned the Bulldogs' respect.

"He's a very accurate passer," said German, who has committed to North Carolina-Charlotte. "He hits the open receiver. We have to get some pressure on him and disrupt him. We can't let him sit there and have time to throw. They're a balanced team, too. They have a good running back. We respect them. We respect everyone we play."

"They have the capability to make the big play," said Brown, who has committed to Ohio University. "The difference between them and Westminister is they are more balanced and they do it at a slower pace. With Westminister, every play was boom, boom, boom. No huddle. Quick. They are still 1-2-3 throw, but they will huddle up and the pace is slower, so we should be able to set up our defense."

While important, the ratings, the Martinsburg players said, are the furthest thing from their minds.

"I don't think the ratings mean anything," Dhatt said. "It's going to be the rivalry game with a playoff atmosphere. We already know they have a great team. We know they want to beat us."